AFC Stoneham survived a late scare and came from behind to beat United Services Portsmouth 4-2 in an action-packed contest.

The opening 10 minutes saw both teams have an equal share of possession but not really test any of the two goalkeepers, with the first shot from U.S Portsmouth’s Luke Richards being comfortably saved by goalkeeper Tom Parker-Trott.

Lewis Nagle was lively early on, with his devasting runs giving their defence a headache, but his curling efforts didn’t cause the goalkeeper too much trouble.

Scott Hills found himself one on one with the goalkeeper early on after a great ball from Jim Orvis, but Shepard got down well to save it and the follow up shot from Mat Bainbridge was blazed over the bar.

Nagle and Hills both put a handful of crosses into the box early on, but on nearly every occasion the U.S Portsmouth defence dealt with them efficiently and cleared the danger.

A short free-kick given to Orvis created the best chance of the first half, but Callaghan just headed over following pressure from the on-rushing goalkeeper.

U.S Portsmouth’s number nine Lamin Jatta was causing the Stoneham defence problems, but he was forced to drop deep to collect the ball, keeping him away from any goal-scoring opportunities.

AFC Stoneham’s solid defensive shape meant that U.S Portsmouth had to try their luck from long-range on many occasions, not troubling Parker-Trott too much and creating a quiet end to the first half.

HALF TIME: AFC Stoneham 0-0 United Services Portsmouth

Jamie Bulpitt replaced Liam Callaghan at the break, hoping to bring solidity to the midfield and push for the opening goal of the game.

However, the first goal of the game came for the away side five minutes later after confusion between Clarke and Ovington allowed Burroughs to steal in and

slot the ball past Parker-Trott to give Portsmouth a 1-0 lead.

AFC Stoneham thought they had equalised just minutes later but as the ball was fired goal-wards, it hit the hand of a man in purple and the referee was quick to disallow it and give a free-kick to the away side.

But they did indeed level the scoring in the 62nd minute after Mat Bainbridge’s on-target corner was nodded in on the line by centre-back Ben Clarke, kick-starting Stoneham’s comeback.

The persistentPurps were probing again and nearly took the lead shortly after, but Bainbridge’s through ball was blocked by the hand of the last U.S Portsmouth defender, who was a lucky man to escape a red.

AFC Stoneham finally went in front in the 68th minute thanks to substitute Jamie Bulpitt, who’s long-range effort managed to creep its way past the scrambling goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner.

This is where the home side really started to take control of the game and a third only took eight minutes to arrive, after Scott Hills was brought down in the box before he was able to pull the trigger, earning a penalty for his side.

Captain Jim Orvis took the penalty kick and rolled it into the bottom left corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and giving his side a two-goal cushion.

Three minutes later, U.S Portsmouth won a penalty for themselves after their captain Cam Quirke was bought down in the box, which was then converted by Sam Emeneyto make the score line 3-2.

In the 90th minute, U.S Portsmouth’s Lamin Jatta looked almost certain to level the scoring after taking the ball around Parker-Trott and having an open goal to tap it into, but he somehow fired the ball wide and let Stoneham off big time, missing the opportunity to level things late on.

Deep into added time, Cian Cleary wrapped up the three points for Stoneham after his clinical effort found the bottom right-hand corner and meant the game ended 4-2 to the Purps.

AFC Stoneham Starting XI: Parker-Trott, Barnes, Dyer, Bainbridge, Ovington, Clarke, Nagle, Orvis (79’), Hills, Clements (66’), Callaghan (45’)

SUBS: Evans (79’), Bulpitt (45’), McNulty, Thomson, Cleary (66’)

United Services Portsmouth Starting XI:Shepard, Aston, McGee, Burns, Emeney, Benjamin, Jibley, Quirke (c), Jatta, Burroughs, Richards.

Subs: Spencer, Grant, Andrews, Mathe, Jewell.

By Freddie Dorman